Types of Physical Therapy

Physical therapy, also known as physiotherapy focuses on treating injuries and disorders through physical methods. Physical therapy is an emerging science with immense benefits and is likely to grow in the coming years. Today, physical therapy is not only confined to sportspersons and it is being being widely practiced in America in treating patients who suffer from joint pains, ligament tear, bone dysfunction etc.

Types of  physical therapy

Below are the five different types of physical therapy according to the American Board of Physical Therapy Specialists.

• Orthopedic physical therapy: This type of physical therapy is used in the outpatient department of hospitals where the patient may visit the doctor on a daily or a weekly basis. It is practiced in sportspeople and patients who have recently met with some kind of accident. It focuses more on the musculoskeletal system, that is related to joints, tendons, ligaments etc.
• Geriatric physical therapy: This type of physical therapy focuses on the ailments related to the aging population. Some of the common problems old people face are Alzheimer's disease, arthritis, osteoporosis etc. In geriatric therapy, the doctor mainly focuses on restoring the mobility that may be affected by illness.
• Neurological physical therapy: As the name suggests, neurological therapy concerns with neurological dysfunctions like Parkinson's disease, cerebral palsy, brain injury, spinal cord injury and stroke. Neurological therapy takes longer as it is specifically designed for people who need progressive recovery options.
• Cardiovascular and Pulmonary physical therapy: This therapy focuses on ailments related to both heart and lungs. Patients who have had a surgery recently or are facing difficulty in breathing are mainly treated through this type of physical therapy to increase their endurance.
• Pediatric physical therapy: This type of treatment focuses on infants, young children and adolescents. Children in which mobility related health issues have been detected early on are treated through this therapy by teaching them certain exercises to improve their normal mobility.